Nebraska: Lincoln

Children enjoy a healthy snack at Fredstrom Elementary School in Lincoln, Neb.

Children having fun on a climbing wall during physical education class at Fredstrom Elementary School in Lincoln, Neb.

Children take a physical activity break in the classroom at Fredstrom Elementary School in Lincoln, Neb.

A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are on the menu at Fredstrom Elementary School in Lincoln, Neb.

Children practice yoga at an after-school program at the Malone Community Center in Lincoln, Neb.

Children take a swimming class at the YMCA in Lincoln, Neb.

Students using stationary bicycles in the library at Scott Middle School in Lincoln, Neb.

Students at Scott Middle School in Lincoln, Neb., get moving in physical education class.

Lincoln, Neb., is a city whose leaders are committed to a creating a Culture of Health across all sectors—and it shows. Residents are becoming more physically active and eating healthier, and obesity rates are declining among both school-age children and adult employees of local businesses.

A community-wide initiative providing education and support to pregnant and breastfeeding moms; and

Community engagement programs, like “Fit by 2015,” an effort to reduce the number of obese children in Lincoln’s elementary and middle schools to below 15 percent by the 2015-2016 school year and Streets Alive, an annual outdoor “moving festival” featuring events like a farmers’ market and a celebration of cycling.

Other highlights of Lincoln’s all-hands-on-deck approach to obesity prevention include:

Lincoln became an early champion of Let’s Move! Cities, Towns, and Counties after adopting the 54321GO childhood obesity prevention program in 2013. The program emphasizes good nutrition, adequate physical activity and minimal screen time.

The city health department sponsors a Summer Food Service Program, which provides healthy summer meals to children from low-income families.

In 2013, Mayor Chris Beutler issued a five-year “Community Health Challenge,” to make healthy living a top priority and to work toward becoming the healthiest city in the nation. The city’s trailblazing efforts represent some big steps in the right direction.